The end of the first month of school was a few days ago and my how things have changed since my last blog. My world is very, very busy. I have a classroom on the boys side and the girls side of the school to keep up. Two rolling carts packed with centers and other materials that I carry across with me which have to be moved daily in a short amount of time. I feel very rushed and am struggling to keep everything together. I'm a super organized person, but keeping up with everything is a daily struggle for me.
Working in Cycle 1, I have 51 students (24 boys and 27 girls) instead of 22 in KG2. I use lots of manipualtives and hand-on activities. Lots of cutting, pasting, gluing, and making new centers for both sides. I have cutter's grip from cutting all the laminated shapes and making folder games. Each night I go home and work, work, work.
The language barrier is bigger in Cycle 1. In KG2, Hanaa was there to translate for me. In Grade 1, its just me. I play charades all day and am using as many Arabic words as I can learn to help them understand me. Three weeks ago I started Arabic lessons and always pick up new words that I can use the next day at school. The children like teaching me new words. I say, "What is this in Arabic?" and then I say in English it is..... They love to hear me say a new word and are very happy when I use it later. As I am very pleased to hear them use the English words I've taught them.
Having a whole class of boys is very different than having a mixed class. There's lots of boys "energy" that you have to corral and use to your advantage. A whole class of girls is very different too. My girls love to talk and play with each other's hair. Girls are much more social than my boys. Discipline is much harder this year and its all about me and how I face the situation. Some days I win and others I lose. The good news is I win way more than I lose.
I am having one of those "first year teacher" years where everything is new and there is a big learning curve. Each day gets a little easier and students are getting into a routine and procedures are in place. Centers are coming along nicely, but still have work to do to be like I want. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and want everything perfect now, but a wise person told me that I have to learn to forgive myself for not being perfect. My class will get where I want them to be. I just have to be patient and model, model, model. Reevaluate the day and decide what worked and what didn't work and make a new plan for the next day.
About two weeks ago, I started to get sick from the weather change and finally my voice gave out and had to stay home and rest for a couple of days and take my meds. My students were so happy to see me return. The boys smiled and waved at me. The girls were full of hugs and smiles when they saw me. Warmed the coggles of my heart! I already love my students and they love me too.
Working in Cycle 1, I have 51 students (24 boys and 27 girls) instead of 22 in KG2. I use lots of manipualtives and hand-on activities. Lots of cutting, pasting, gluing, and making new centers for both sides. I have cutter's grip from cutting all the laminated shapes and making folder games. Each night I go home and work, work, work.
The language barrier is bigger in Cycle 1. In KG2, Hanaa was there to translate for me. In Grade 1, its just me. I play charades all day and am using as many Arabic words as I can learn to help them understand me. Three weeks ago I started Arabic lessons and always pick up new words that I can use the next day at school. The children like teaching me new words. I say, "What is this in Arabic?" and then I say in English it is..... They love to hear me say a new word and are very happy when I use it later. As I am very pleased to hear them use the English words I've taught them.
Having a whole class of boys is very different than having a mixed class. There's lots of boys "energy" that you have to corral and use to your advantage. A whole class of girls is very different too. My girls love to talk and play with each other's hair. Girls are much more social than my boys. Discipline is much harder this year and its all about me and how I face the situation. Some days I win and others I lose. The good news is I win way more than I lose.
I am having one of those "first year teacher" years where everything is new and there is a big learning curve. Each day gets a little easier and students are getting into a routine and procedures are in place. Centers are coming along nicely, but still have work to do to be like I want. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and want everything perfect now, but a wise person told me that I have to learn to forgive myself for not being perfect. My class will get where I want them to be. I just have to be patient and model, model, model. Reevaluate the day and decide what worked and what didn't work and make a new plan for the next day.
About two weeks ago, I started to get sick from the weather change and finally my voice gave out and had to stay home and rest for a couple of days and take my meds. My students were so happy to see me return. The boys smiled and waved at me. The girls were full of hugs and smiles when they saw me. Warmed the coggles of my heart! I already love my students and they love me too.
For 9 days, I am able to turn off the 4:30 am alarm and sleep in. My body needs to recharge, rejuvenate, and replenish from the first month of school. It has been hard....Made me question who I am as an educator and a person. Things that work in the US don't always work here. The language barrier causes big problems. Yet, I can say that my students have learned so much since the beginning of school and I look forward to teaching them more. It will not be easy, but I don't give up. Going to have to dig deep and do everything I can to help these children. Until we meet again! :)
